This Utah Desert Reserve Is A Gem Just Waiting To Be Discovered
By Catherine Armstrong|Published May 15, 2019
×
Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Southern Utah has a special beauty that draws you in and quiets your soul. There’s a 62,000-acre reserve in the St. George area that’s full of stunning red-rock vistas, and home to many plants and animals that aren’t found anywhere else. Check out Red Cliffs Desert Reserve:
Red Cliffs Desert Reserve encompasses 62,000 acres in Southern Utah, and it's a beautiful area that's certainly worth of exploration. You'll find the visitor center in St. George.
This map shows the vast area that the reserve covers. It's 20 miles wide and 6 miles deep - a vast expanse of land that was set aside as a reserve in 2009 to protect the Mojave Desert Tortoise and other species.
During your visit, you might spot a tortoise (especially if you stop into the Visitor Center). Please note that it's illegal to touch these protected creatures. It's more fun to observe them, anyway!
Though it's illegal to touch the tortoises, if they're in the middle of the road, you're encouraged to pick them up carefully and move them so they won't be hit by cars. If a tortoise is in immediate danger, it's ok to move them. Otherwise, leave them alone.
Advertisement
You'll want to keep an eye out for wildlife while you explore the reserve. Pay close attention, and you might spot all kinds of creatures, from mammals...
The reserve is also home to the fascinating Gila Monster, though they're almost impossible to spot in the wild here. Your best best is to visit Hercules the Gila Monster, who lives at the Visitor Center.
To immerse yourself in this wild place, take one of the dozens of hiking trails inside the reserve. There's a trail for every skill level, and you're certain to find something interesting along the way.
Red Cliffs Desert Reserve's Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Make sure to include it in your visit; you'll see many different animals, and learn all about the reserve.
Visit Red Cliffs Desert Reserve’s website to learn more about that special place, and follow its Facebook page to see more gorgeous photos of the reserve. Have you visited Red Cliffs Desert Reserve? Tell us about your adventure in the comments!
